KPK Probes Illegal Payments at Ngurah Rai and Denpasar Immigration Counters in Foreigner Permit Scandal
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) examined two witnesses on Friday (26/6) to investigate the alleged handover of illegal payments by service agents at the immigration counters of Ngurah Rai and Denpasar, Bali. The two witnesses are Ni Komang Yustarin, a staff member of PT Bali Soft or an agent, and I Gusti Ngurah Putu Atmadja, an entrepreneur. The examination was conducted at the Denpasar Police Station.
Investigators are looking into the witnesses’ statements as agents regarding the alleged demand for money beyond the official non-tax state revenue (PNBP) tariff, said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo in a written statement on Sunday (28/6). The demand for these payments was made at the counters of the Ngurah Rai and Denpasar Immigration Offices.
According to the KPK, the illegal payments were intended to be forwarded to the central immigration office. If the service agents did not provide the additional money, their applications would not be processed, including submissions for Limited Stay Permits (KITAS), Permanent Stay Permits (KITAP), Visit Stay Permits (ITK), or Visa On Arrival (VOA).
This legal process is linked to a case of alleged extortion related to foreign nationals’ residence permits and/or gratuities within the Directorate General of Immigration from 2022 to 2026. Eight individuals are currently undergoing legal proceedings. They are former Deputy Minister of Immigration for 2025-2026, Silmy Karim; Acting Director General of Immigration for 2024-2025, Saffar Muhammad Godam; Director of Residence Permits, Jaya Saputra; Sub-Directorate Heads at the Directorate of Residence Permits, Bagus Bramantyo and Tessar Bayu Setyaji; Head of the Central Jakarta Immigration Office for 2024-2025 and Head of the West Jakarta Immigration Office for 2025-2026, Ronald Arman Abdullah; Head of the Limited Stay Permit Status Transfer Team, Juniadi Sri Priambudi; and staff member Gusti Bernardiansyah. They have been detained at the KPK Detention Centre.
The suspects are charged under Article 12 letter e and/or Article 12B of the Corruption Eradication Law in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The case was uncovered by the KPK through a sting operation on 2-3 June 2026, during which 18 people were arrested, including Silmy Karim who surrendered himself. The KPK also found and secured various pieces of evidence suspected to be related to or proceeds of the criminal act of corruption, with a total value of Rp17.5 billion in various forms, including seven cars, 15 motorcycles, 11 bicycles, bank account balances, crypto asset account balances, and various foreign currencies.